Illegal vapes worth more than £13,000 seized in York

City of York Council said the shops were targeted after complaints and intelligence received from members of the public

More than 1,000 illegal vapes, worth about £13,000, have been seized.

City of York Council trading standards officers visited three shops in the city as part of a two-day operation.

The council said the businesses had been targeted after complaints and intelligence received from members of the public.

The authority also said a series of underage test purchases had also been carried out, with one shop caught selling vapes to a child.

Vapes are illegal if the tank capacity is more than 2ml and the nicotine volume is more than 20mg.

The council released details of the seizures to coincide with the publication of the government's proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which includes legislation meaning anyone turning 15 this year, or younger, would never legally be sold cigarettes.

Jo Coles, the councillor in charge of health and wellbeing at the authority, said: "High levels of nicotine in illegal vapes can be really damaging to our health, and no vapes are suitable for children, so it's really worrying that shops in York have been selling them, and selling vapes to under 18s.

"Illegal vapes have no place in our city and we must ensure our children are protected from them."